S. Carolina Bill Pertaining to the prohibiting of squirrel ownership and husbandry... -- for the love of squirrels

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Date Posted: 18:52:04 01/18/02 Fri
Author: Beverly (aka Miss Crabtree)
Subject:

S. Carolina Bill Pertaining to the prohibiting of squirrel ownership and husbandry...

RobRoy, and all other squirrel fans, S. Carolina is proposing an amendment to a law, that would result in a ban the ownership and husbandry of squirrels without the purchasing of a yearly permit under a "exotic animals" definition. It is in the interest of squirrel fans in every state to see that this bill be defeated, or at the very least, amended to exclude squirrels from the definition of "exotic" animals. I have a letter composed, that you can use edit, copy & paste, to send to anyone you know in South Carolina, to encourage them to voice their objection to this proposed legislation. Please contact any S. Carolinans you know, on message boards, chat lines, etc., and ask them for help with this. It is important to every one, in every state, that we keep abreast of these prohibitive laws! Here is the letter:

The Honorable (fill in the name of your district's represenative to the State Legislature)

P.O. Box 11867
Columbia, SC 29211

Dear ___________________,

As a concerned constituent, registered voter, and South Carolina taxpayer, I am writing to express my dismay and consternation at the proposed inclusion of squirrels in the definition of "exotic" animals, as detailed in the below noted bill, Number 4403, which would:
"PROHIBIT A PERSON FROM OWNING OR POSSESSING AN EXOTIC ANIMAL UNLESS THE PERSON WAS IN LEGAL POSSESSION OF THE ANIMAL BEFORE THIS ACT'S EFFECTIVE DATE AND THE PERSON OBTAINS A PERSONAL POSSESSION PERMIT FOR THE EXOTIC ANIMAL WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF THIS ACT'S EFFECTIVE DATE;
through a Chapter (2): 'Exotic animal' means those species of animals that are inherently dangerous to humans. Exotic animals include, but are not limited to, the following orders and families, whether bred in the wild or in captivity, and any or all hybrids. The animals listed in parentheses are intended to act as examples and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list or limit the generality of each group of animals, unless otherwise specified:
(viii) order rodentia (squirrels, beavers, and porcupines but not guinea pigs, rats, mice, gerbils, or hamsters);

I would like to see the bill amended to provide exclusion for all squirrel species. The squirrel family of the Order Rodentia represents by far less of a risk to the community of South Carolina residents than does the domestic dog, or domestic cat. Many of its member species have been kept as beloved household pets in America since colonial days. Including squirrels in this bill would be akin to prohibiting all state residents from ownership and husbandry of dogs and cats, or hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, etc., unless expensive licensing requirements were met.

The proposed legislation represents a punitive, capricious and arbitrary law, creating a hardship in its stringent requirements for the ownership and husbandry of these sweet, often domesticated rodents. I am asking for your help in defeating the proposed legislation as written, or specifically amending the proposed bill to exclude squirrels from the bill's definition of "exotic", as it has specified exclusion for the aforementioned sugar glider, gerbil, guinea pig, and hamster. This could be corrected easily by changing Chapter (2), (viii), to read:
(viii) order rodentia (beavers, and porcupines but not squirrels, guinea pigs, rats, mice, gerbils, or hamsters)

Thank you for your consideration of my request for your help. I will watch with much interest the progression of this bill, as presented, and hope the final bill, if passed, will reflect your considered assistance in this matter.

I send this with all good wishes for a successful session in our State Legislature,

Sincerely

______________
(Your Name)

Current Status
Bill Number: 4403
Type of Legislation: General Bill GB
Introducing Body: House
Introduced Date: 20020108
Primary Sponsor: Taylor
All Sponsors: Taylor
Drafted Document Number: l:\council\bills\nbd\11005ac02.doc
Residing Body: House
Current Committee: Agriculture, Natural Resources and
Environmental Affairs Com 20 HANR

BILL
TO AMEND TITLE 47, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ANIMALS, LIVESTOCK, AND POULTRY BY ADDING CHAPTER 2 WHICH ENACTS THE "EXOTIC ANIMAL CONTROL AND REGULATION ACT", SO AS TO DEFINE EXOTIC ANIMAL AS THOSE SPECIES OF ANIMALS THAT ARE INHERENTLY DANGEROUS TO HUMANS AND TO EXEMPT SPECIFIC ANIMALS AND CERTAIN ENTITIES POSSESSING EXOTIC ANIMALS; TO PROHIBIT A PERSON FROM OWNING OR POSSESSING AN EXOTIC ANIMAL UNLESS THE PERSON WAS IN LEGAL POSSESSION OF THE ANIMAL BEFORE THIS ACT'S EFFECTIVE DATE AND THE PERSON OBTAINS A PERSONAL POSSESSION PERMIT FOR THE EXOTIC ANIMAL WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF THIS ACT'S EFFECTIVE DATE; TO ESTABLISH IDENTIFICATION, CAGING, CARE AND TREATMENT, AND INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS; TO PROHIBIT PUBLIC CONTACT WITH AN EXOTIC ANIMAL; TO AUTHORIZE INSPECTIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES; TO AUTHORIZE CONFISCATION OF THESE ANIMALS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS; AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES.

Whereas, it is the intent of the South Carolina General Assembly to protect the public against health and safety risks that exotic animals pose to the community and to protect the welfare of the individual animals held in private possession. By their very nature, these animals are wild and inherently dangerous and, as such, do not adjust well to a captive environment. Now therefore, Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina: SECTION 1. Title 47 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"CHAPTER 2
(2) 'Exotic animal' means those species of animals that are inherently dangerous to humans. Exotic animals include, but are not limited to, the following orders and families, whether bred in the wild or in captivity, and any or all hybrids. The animals listed in parentheses are intended to act as examples and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list or limit the generality of each group of animals, unless otherwise specified:

iv) order marsupialia (opossums, kangaroos, and wallabies but not sugar gliders);

(viii) order rodentia (squirrels, beavers, and porcupines but not guinea pigs, rats, mice, gerbils, or hamsters);

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